A major problem I have is just picturing myself as a comic artist – it’s just… I dunno, I have no firm idea of what it really means. At this point I’m considered a ‘pro’ – and I feel like a pro, but it’s really pro with a small ‘p’. I’m wondering if part of my problems with drawing is that I just can’t visualise what it means to be a Pro (big ‘P’). Normally, after a convention, I come back all fired up, it’s a real taste of what life could be like working as a proper artist, this usually disappears after three or four days of the returning to the treadmill of the day job. This year I did one convention. Next year, I think, I’ll do every convention that I can. With samples tailored for each. Once this here dredd is finished, I resume a Si Spurrier sample I’ve promised (but have yet to deliver) and finally a new batman sample.

I think I may even do all the Irish conventions I can (although, previous experience suggests they always leaving me feeling a bit …unsatisfied… there’s never anything for me to do their as people tend to either be uninterested in what I do or just don’t know)

One thing I’m not overly fond of is the pre-hyping of things (and I’m talking very specifically of stuff in 2000AD/Megazine) – I can see the need for it, but as a reader I always think, ‘Come on Tharg, big up *this* issue – don’t tell me the next one is gonna be really really good’. It’s sort of equivalent of paying for a great meal and eating the starter while slavering over the idea of the dessert (ok, I do that). So I’m thinking… how can I post about stuff I’m about to do, stuff that I’m thinking of right now, and not make it look like I’m hyping what’s coming. (although, if you’re a frequent flyer here you’ll know ‘hype’ isn’t exactly what I do, it’s more ‘pre-loathing’). So it occurs to me, if I post something to the blog and set the date of it to roughly the publication date then that might work? Yeah, I’ll try that for awhile. Currently working on episode 3, so don’t expect to see posts about that for a couple of months.

On the flip side of that, I suppose, is how do I add extra value to the work that’s on the shelf at the moment (or, you know, the stuff that will be on the shelf at the moment it’s on … er..). I’m not sure, I could do a readthrough of the comic as a podcast – a reaction to the finished product? along with some character sketches and unused pages? Yeah, that might do to.

Me? In a house, maybe another kid, working as a comic artist. Course this makes a lot of assumptions, not least of which is that comics as we know it will still exist.

How do I get from here to there? The home life is all going as planned, the drawing … not so much. I flit between intensely interested in nothing but drawing to holding drawing and my ability in complete disdain. I’ve battled with this demon for years (just trawl through the archive).

I hope I’m on trajectory towards a full time career as an artist but it’s a damn slow trajectory.

I dithered so long on deciding to go that it become waaay too expensive. And besides, next month sees episode one of Warzone, the John Wagner scripted Dredd four parter I’ve been drawing start and I haven’t finished it yet!

Next week’s column may well be delayed due to the Brighton convention, being run by Dez Skinn, taking place this Friday to Sunday. It’s also my birthday on Monday, so I may be dragged into all sorts of shenanigans.

But back to the convention. The range of creators is stunning. Such as Bit Titcombe who launched “Buster” back in 1960, worked on all the major humour titles, currently working on “Fimbles” and “Tellytubbies,” and last attended a convention in 1975.

*Sigh* … I wish I was going to this, it seems to have gained a momentum and a guest list/exhibitor list which may be impossible to maintain. Oh well, next year…

Michael must deal with a huge mole problem in order to salvage a major real estate deal with Japanese investors. In an effort to help Michael, Gob and Buster (Tony Hale) team up with George Sr.’s surrogate, Larry (guest star Bob Einstein), to devise a plan and save the deal, but their plan falls apart in a big way. Meanwhile, Tobias (David Cross) mistakes a CIA agent for a CAA agent and inadvertently betrays the family, and Michael makes Rita a proposal she can’t refuse. Frankie Muniz makes a cameo as himself.

This episode had me in tears of laughter – it’s a work of utter and absolute genius.